Flatiron



Patented Oct. 19, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT yoEFlcE FLATmoN Einar G. Lofgren, Minneapolis, Minn. Application August 13,1941, serial No. 406,630

1 claim. (on 21a-'25) My present invention provides an extremely simple and highly eflicient atiron, this term being used in a broad and liberal sense and, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and deined in the claim.

The objects of my invention are to provide a flatiron in which the heat energy is produced in a metallic sole plate, such as cast iron, by the action of an alternating current on a magnetic coil or solenoid; "'to provide a highly efficient fiatiron that may be produced at a relatively small cost; to provide an iron that will be relatively light and the parts of which maybe quickly assembled and disassembled; and to provide in such an iron a thermostatic switch that may be applied in an eiiicient way and conveniently operated to set the iron for predetermined temperatures.

A commercial form of the improved iron is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein like characters indicatelike parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig.` 1 is a view in side elevation, with some parts brokeny away and some parts sectioned,

showing the improved iron;

Fig.2 is a plan view of the iron `shown -in Fig. 1 with the enclosing shell Aor casing and handle removed and with some of the other parts broken away;

Fig. 3 isa transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the outer shell or casing in position but with the, handlev removed;

Fig. 4 is a detail in section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line v 5 5 ofFig. 1.

The'base or sole plate of the improved iron is I indicated by the numeral I0 and in plan view is substantially the customary forwardly tapered outline. This sole plate I0 is of cast grey iron and preferably is formed integral witha relatively thick body block II, the perimeter ot which is spaced quite distant from the rim of the sole plate. 'I'his body slack or portion II is formed with a deep endless channel or valley I2 that leaves a solid hub that isA surrounded by said channel. y

` 'I'he sole plate I0, being forwardly tapered, it is very desirable for high eiilciency thatthe body block I I and the channel I2 thereof, in plan view, be made substantially in the form of an eggshaped ellipse with the tapered portions extended far into the iront portion of the iron. Located within the elliptical channel I2 is a correspondingly formed induction coil I3 which, of course, closely surrounds the elliptical hub of the said block. Fitted onto the top of the block Il, and,

hence, of correspondingly elliptical outline, is a through perforations in the top of the shell and screwed into said cover. The lower edge of the shell-like casing I6 is seated upon the sole plate I0 very considerably inward of the rim of said sole plate. Otherwise' stated, the sole plate has a beveled rim portion 10a that projects beyond the lower edge or rim of said casing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Just inward of the beveled portion of its rim Illa, sole plate I0 is preferably formed with a raised rib I0b on which the lower edge of the casing I6 is seated; and to align and hold the shell thus seated, the sole plate III is provided at its front end with a raised aligning lug I8 and at its rear end with a raised aligning rib I9. At the rear end of the iron the casing I6 is projected at 16a beyond the rear end of the sole plate and near its rear end itis formed with an opening 2l through which parts of a thermally-actuated switch is adapted to be passed. The handle 2I is preferably a shell-like structure, the front end of which is ared and rigidly secured to the front portion of the casing I6 at 22. At its' rear end the handle is beveled and rigidly secured, either permanently or detachably, by suitable 4means such as spot welding, screws or any other suitable means, as indicated at 23.

The rear portion of handle 2l is formed in opposite sides with holes 24 through which supply wires 25 may be passed from either side of the handle. The perforation not used for the passage of the wires will usually be closed by a detachable plug 26, as shown in Fig. 4.

To adapt the iron for convenient use, either with the right or left hand, the handle 2l, at its front portion, is provided with projecting lugs or knobs 21. When the handle is held by the right hand the left hand lug 2l would be engaged by the thumb, produce downward pressure on the front end of the iron, and when the handle is engaged by the left hand, the thumb would be engaged by the right hand lug 21.

To increase the power factor oi' the iron, a

such thermostatic switch is placed in the space at the rear of the iron and at or under the rear portion of the hollow handle 2 I. Of the parts of the thermostatic switch shown, the numeral 29 indicates a lower bi-metallic bar, one end of which is supported from the bottom of the 'iron by a small vbracket 30 which, in turn, is insulated from but secured to the lower flange oi a channel-shaped bracket 3l secured on the bottom of the iron at the rear portion thereof and just forward of the rear ilange I9. Overlying the bimetallic bar 29 is a resilient metal bar 32, one

end of which is anchored to a small bracket 33 which, in turn, is insulated from but -secured to they .upper ange of the main bracket 3|. At its intermediate portion resilient bar 32 isprovided with a rivet-lke'hearing head 34 that is insulated from the said baz-32 by a small plate 35 of insu-l lating material such as mica.

The upper flange of the main bracket 3I is shown as provided with a hub 36 through which works an adjusting screw 31. A` small lever 3B is attached to the upper end of the adjusting screw 31 and is extended immediately over the top of the casing I6. The bars 29 and 32, respectively, are provided with contacts 39' and l0 which, when engaged, close the circuit through the coil I3. One of the supply AWires 25 is connected to the coil I3 through the bi-metallic strip 29 and the other is connected to the coil I3 through the resilient bar 32. Obviously, adjustment of the screw 31, which is easily accomplished by movement of lever I8, will set the thermostatic switch for the desired temperature.

The beveled projecting edges of the sole plate adapt the iron to reach and iron out extended portionsof garments such as the pleats that would preventgthe whole body of the iron being extended so as to properly iron such places.

`A preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated but itwill be understood that various alterations in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the invention herein disclosed and claimed.

It will be understood that alternating current is the medium intended to be used to energizey the induction coil.

What I claim is:

A flatiron involving a sole plate provided with a raised body block formed with an endless channel, an induction coil in said channel, a cover plate detachablysecured on top of said body block, a casing enclosing said body block, coil and cover and seted on said sole plate outward of said body block, said body block being located inward of the sides, end and rear of said casing, thereby leaving air space around lsaid block and coil, a supply circuit to said coil including a thermostatic switch that is located in the enclosed space at the rear of said body block but within the rear portion of said casing, and a handle applied to the front and rear portions of the casing, the rear portion of the handle being hollow and receiving a portion of said thermostatic switch, the said thermostatic switch having an adjusting element provided with an arm that is extended over the top of the rear portion of the casing.

' EINAR. G. LOFGREN. 

